Synchronous Generator
Synchronous Generator
SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR
280
270
260
250
240
230
220
210
200
190
180
170
160
V (V), Ia (A)
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
If (A)
Calculations
(1) The synchronous reactance for various values of field currents was determined from the
data obtained by the O/C and S/C characteristic curves graph.
V o /c AC
Xs = =
I s /c AB
E.g. At a field current value of If = 0.1 A, AC and AB values obtained by the graph are;
AC = 102, AB = 4
AC 102
∴ Xs = = = 25.5 Ω
AB 4
Graph of Xs Vs If
30.00
25.00
20.00
Xs (Ω)
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65
If (A)
Field current for rated open circuit voltage
(3) Short Circuit Ratio =
Field current for rated short circuit current
I ′f I ′a
SCR = =
If Ia
15
∴ SCR = = 3.00
5
1
In p.u. quantities, Xs (sat) =
SCR
1
∴ Xs (sat) = = 0.3333 pu
3.00
Vt
In ohms, Xs (sat) =
I ′a
240
∴ Xs (sat) = = 16 Ω
15
Discussion
The SCR (Short Circuit Ratio) is the ratio of the field current needed to generate rated
open-circuit armature voltage, to the field current needed to produce rated current on a sustained
short circuit.
The SCR value of a synchronous generator can reveal information about the machine’s
performance. When the SCR value is lower, in order to maintain a constant terminal voltage for
a given change in load, a larger change in field current is required when compared with a higher
SCR value. Also, lower SCR means the steady state stability limit of the machine is lower.
Therefore, a machine of low SCR is dependent on an excitation system that is able to provide
large changes of field current quickly and reliably. An appropriate excitation system can also
increase steady state stability. The physical dimensions and properties are relatively smaller on
low SCR machines, so their cost is also lower.
V o /c AC
Xs = =
I s /c AB
When we observe the short-circuit and the open-circuit characteristic curves, we can see
AC
that the ratio is nearly constant for lower values of the field current; i.e. before the machine
AB
begins saturation, when the open-circuit characteristic curve is nearly linear. But once the
machine begins saturation, the synchronous reactance begins to drop rapidly.